In a bid to stimulate its tourism sector and foster economic resurgence, Malaysia has unveiled plans to grant visa-free entry to citizens of China and India for stays of up to 30 days, effective from December 1. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim disclosed this development during a speech at his People’s Justice Party congress on Sunday, although the duration of the visa exemption was not specified.
China and India stand as the fourth and fifth-largest source markets for tourism in Malaysia, respectively. Government statistics reveal that between January and June of this year, Malaysia welcomed 9.16 million tourists, with 498,540 arrivals from China and 283,885 from India. This marks a significant increase from the figures recorded during the same period in 2019, prior to the pandemic, which accounted for 1.5 million arrivals from China and 354,486 from India.
This move aligns Malaysia with its neighboring country, Thailand, which previously implemented similar measures targeting the vital tourism sector. Thailand exempted Chinese and Indian nationals this year to invigorate its economy and boost tourism.
Presently, Chinese and Indian nationals are required to apply for visas to enter Malaysia. The visa-free entry initiative is anticipated to streamline the entry process and potentially amplify tourist inflow from these nations, aiming to uplift Malaysia’s tourism industry amid the ongoing challenges posed by the global pandemic.
Sources By Agencies
